4 DPWH engineers sacked over corruption, bogus project certifications
MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Public Works Secretary Giovanni Lopez has relieved four district engineers over corruption allegations and irregularities involving infrastructure projects proposed for the 2027 national budget.
Three were removed from their posts following “reports of allegations of corruption” committed by district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH): Hermon Ines of the Tarlac 1st District Engineering Office (DEO); Clifton Valencerina of the Apayao 2nd DEO; and Saidale Mitmug of the Cotabato 3rd DEO.
Meanwhile, Amron Mitmug of the Lanao del Norte 2nd DEO was sacked from his post as district engineer for submitting “false supporting documents” for infrastructure projects under the DPWH’s proposed 2027 budget.
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Lopez said Amron Mitmug personally signed the certificates of implementability covering 59 projects that were later found to be unimplementable.
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READ: Dizon hands Lopez ‘next’ DPWH corruption cases
The new DPWH chief stressed that regional directors, district engineers, assistant district engineers and implementing offices must ensure that projects they certify as implementable can actually proceed once funding is made available.
He warned agency personnel against treating the certificate of implementability as a mere formality, particularly as the Congress scrutinizes infrastructure projects proposed for next year’s national budget.
Lopez cited former Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon’s letter to the Senate recommending the exclusion of 295 DPWH projects that lacked complete documentary requirements worth P8.8 billion in the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
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Lopez said he would not oppose the inclusion of infrastructure projects in the national budget as long as they undergo the proper process and meet the required standards.
Preventive suspension
The DPWH also implemented the Office of the Ombudsman’s preventive suspension order against 13 agency employees assigned to two district engineering offices over alleged irregularities.
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The employees include five personnel from the Bulacan 1st DEO in Central Luzon and eight from the Surigao del Norte 1st DEO in the Caraga region.
Those covered by the suspension order in Bulacan were former Bids and Awards Committee member Irene Ontingco, Engineer II Kevin Geronimo, former engineer John Michael Ramos, Engineer II Bernardo Villafuerte, and Engineer II Michelle Cruz.
In Surigao del Norte, those covered are former District Engineer Annie dela Vega; Engineer III Federico Gotico III; Engineer III Demilyn Castrence; Engineer II and acting Quality Assurance chief Florencio Sulana; Engineer III and Maintenance Section chief Quintiniano Armendarez Jr.; Engineer III Edward Tinio; Accountant III Jerome Sulapas; and Engineer II Ricky Arciga.
READ: Ejercito, DPWH agree to drop noncompliant projects from 2027 budget
According to Lopez, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had instructed him to sustain reform efforts in DPWH, ensure the continued implementation of projects and hold accountable those responsible for irregularities.
“What we need right now is not just accountability. We need swift accountability,” he said.
According to Lopez, the move was in compliance with President Marcos’ directive to remove officials and employees involved in corrupt practices as part of the government’s broader reform and transformation efforts within the agency.
He said the “one-strike policy” implemented by Dizon would continue. He also committed that DPWH personnel involved in questionable activities would be immediately investigated, assuring the public that the department would spare no one in its campaign against corruption.
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Lopez inspected the ongoing reconstruction of a dike in Barangay Frances, Calumpit, in Bulacan, which was earlier found to be substandard. The province was considered to be the ground zero of the flood control scandal last year. /ms
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